LAUSR

ABSTRACT Improving the catalytic activity of La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3−δ (LSCF) by applying polyaniline nanofiber (PA) as a pore former and the electrochemical property of each pore structure was investigated by structural and morphological analyses. The pore volume and specific surface area of the PA-added LSCF layer increased by about 3.2 and 2.7 times, respectively, relative to the existing LSCF layer. Coarse pores of 2 μm diameter were observed by PA agglomeration. The double-layered LSCF (LSCF_PA1) coated with PA-added LSCF on an LSCF single layer presented the lowest polarisation resistance at all measured temperatures. This was due to increased oxygen reduction reaction by the LSCF + PA layer with high porosity that promoted oxygen gas diffusion. Charge transfer was also improved by the wide contact area between the LSCF layer with lower porosity and the Sm-doped ceria powder electrolyte. Micro-porous LSCF showed about 19% lower polarisation resistance than the nano-porous LSCF at 600°C because of mass transfer through oxygen diffusion.